WATCH: The Skinny on Sealing Compounds

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Counterman has been serving auto parts jobbers, retailers and distributors since 1983.
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WATCH: The Skinny on Sealing Compounds

When choosing a sealing compound, keep in mind that these products are formulated for specific applications and operating conditions.

Josh Cable
By Josh Cable
Josh Cable is the editor of Counterman and ShopOwner. He joined Babcox Media in January 2017, and has been working in the field of journalism since 1999.
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There are a variety of sealing compounds on the market for professional and DIY applications. In this video, we’re going to talk about a few of the basic types and how to decide which one is right for your customer.

One of the more common sealing compounds is the RTV silicone adhesive sealant. RTV stands for “room-temperature vulcanized,” and it’s a type of sealant that cures by reacting with the humidity in the air. A high-temperature silicone sealing compound can be used in a wide range of repairs.

Smaller sealing gaps might require a high-temperature sealing compound made from a synthetic resin. This type of compound forms a sealing film due to the evaporation of the solvent. If the part that you’re sealing comes in contact with gasoline or diesel fuel, this is the type of sealing compound that you’ll want to use.

A third type is the anaerobic sealing compound. This type of sealing product can be used on flat, metallic sealing surfaces, and it’s called “anaerobic” because the sealant cures in the absence of oxygen.

When choosing a sealing compound, keep in mind that these products are formulated for specific applications and operating conditions. Sealing compounds are designed for specific temperature ranges, the size of the sealing gap and their resistance to fluids such as oil, grease and coolant. So it’s always wise to learn as much as you can about the repair job before making a recommendation.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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